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Hi, Rusty!
No, you didn't tell me that Michelin Man was called Bibendum?
(or least ways, not that I remember)
What is the origin of the name and why is Michelin Man so called?
I think I have heard the name before......
I have a feeling there is a restaurant named Bibendum, here in London?
Would that be right?
But I did know that MM is thinner these days!

Hello, Elle!
Now, I am not certain, but I think Bibendum means something along the lines of "drink up".
Why he was chosen as the Michelin Man I do not know.
Now, Elle, how on earth would I know the names of restaurants in London, apart from Lyons Tea Shops?
I barely know the names of restaurants in my own neck of the woods!
Bibendum is much slimmer these days, yes.
Wonder how the curling will go tomorrow?
I am looking forward to it!

Hi, Rusty!
I think "Bibendum" must come from bibere , the Latin for "to drink".
But I cannot see why MM should be called that?
I had just thought that if you had been seeking information about MM, aka Bibendum, you might have come across a restaurant of the same name?
I have now consulted Google and I am told that Bibendum is indeed a restaurant in Michelin House in South Kensington.
I shall try to watch the Curling if possible - I am still a tad confused there.

Hello Elle and Rusty!

Apparently, the slogan (ad) of the firm Michelin was, in 1898,

'Bibendum drinks obstacles' .

Cold here too, and this is nothing compared to what awaits us next
week - or so they say.
Your son and daughter-in-law will feel the cold in Paris! When it is
cold in Paris, it is bitter! just think of all the streets crossing
each other, with so many drafts coming from all over the place!

The catacombs are very interesting to see.

Elle, though the Louvres is still very interesting, should you want
to see the Impressionists -whom I know you like - The Musée d'Orsay is the place to go; all the impressionists paintings have been
transported there;; (the old railway station where a train crashed through the wall)
But there are still tons of interesting paintings to see in The Louvres, and not paintings only!

Hello, Elle!
Curling is a simple game.
4 in a team.
Each player throws two stones.
Nearest to "button" (centre) in the "house" gets a point.
There are ten ends or games in each match.
There are other things as well, but that's the basics.
GB v Sweden.
The match is on at 11.00 tomorrow.
Pity you did not watch earlier in the week.
I loved the Norwegian men's trousers.
They were brilliant!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/18/norways-curlers-and-their-incredible-winter-olympic-trousers-ranked

No, I have never looked for Bibendum.
It is something I seem to have always known.
I think we all have things we know filed away, that come to the surface every now and then.

Hello, Pigale!
Thank you for the Bibendum info!
My son says it is much colder in Paris than Scotland, which surprised me!
My granddaughter was very impressed with the catacombs.
I knew nothing about them!

Hi, Rusty!
Brrh! I have just opened the patio door for the dog to go out into the garden one last time before bed,,,,
It is freezing out there!
Minus 1C ..... so we have just been informed on the radio!
Now, Curling......I am about to show my great ignorance about the game!
Why do the players rush about in front of the stone "scrubbing" at the ground before it?
What are they doing?
Are they sweeping the ice?
Does that warm it up?
Does it help the progress of the stone? They do not appear to touch it ?
Is it making it run "truer"?
Sorry...a lot of questions!
Yes, the men's trousers are quite something!



Hello, Pigale!
Thank you for the added info about Bibendum!
Yes, the Musée d'Orsay sounds right up my street.
I love the Impressionists.
I know where to go now if ever I go to Paris!

Good morning, Elle!
Fine frosty morning here!
The sweepers will alter the direction and speed of the stone.
They also shout info about the speed etc that the stone is travelling at.
Communication is very important.
Very much a team game!
Off out now!

A very good morning to you, Rusty!
We have another beautiful day here, although it is very frosty and icy cold!
I did not understand how curling was played......it sounds far more interesting from your explanation than I had realised.
Thank you for explaining it t o me.
I shall try to watch a match.
We too are going out, now......
We are off to a Garden Centre in Kent.
We want some more shrubs for the flower beds.......and there is a special offer on till the end of this month!
Catch up with you later..........

Elle, Rusty

Did you see Elise's emotion after the mens relay yesterday? As the cameras zoomed in, she was very happy and relieved, and gave an update on her injury. She seemed to say

"A gold at last! I shall run soon." I embarrassed skating partner. (7,6,3)

She explained afterwards that she has been solving cryptic crosswords between races and had just solved this clue, hence her joy. She said that clues seemed to have control over her life at present and asked that British setters provide a clue that will win her a gold at the next Olympics. We have 4 years to work on it!